Vermont is one of six states are calling on the Environmental Protection Agency to do more to control the mercury pollution that’s blowing into New England from the Midwest.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick says pollution from the Midwest’s coal-fired power plants is contributing to high mercury levels found in freshwater fish in the Northeast. New York joined Vermont and four other New England states in making the request.
Officials say more than 70 percent of the mercury affecting New England comes from upwind air pollution. The governors have submitted a plan to reduce mercury emissions by 75 percent by 2010.
Patrick says the region won’t be able to lift restrictions on eating freshwater fish unless the EPA curbs mercury pollution from outside the region.